GIVING PEACE A CHANCE

Hauppauge School District launched the Peaceful School Bus Program at its Forest Brook and Pines Elementary Schools in fall 2012. According to the District’s Director of Guidance and Student Data Linda Karman, “the number of bus incidents has declined steadily since this program’s inception.”

Staff, students and school bus drivers work collaboratively in the Peaceful School Bus Program to create a positive, peaceful bus experience for all elementary school students. This is accomplished through building-wide assemblies as well as gathering students to meet in their bus groups with staff group facilitators periodically throughout the school year. During these assemblies and meetings, students have the opportunity to review the Peaceful School Bus rules, get to know their fellow students in their bus groups, learn more about their bus driver, review appropriate bus behaviors and discuss what they see happening on their bus on a day-to-day basis. “The Peaceful School Bus program provides our students with a forum to be an active and integral part of the effort to create positive, peaceful bus experiences,” described Pines Elementary School Principal Dr. Claudine DiMuzio. “The students are given an opportunity to have their voices be heard and their ideas put into action!”

“Working collaboratively, we have seen some very positive results come from the Peaceful School Bus Program,” continued DiMuzio. “Students report feeling more pride and ownership over their school bus experience.” The Pines School additionally implemented a “Bus Compliment” Program this year, where building staff reward bus groups that receive positive remarks and compliments from their bus drivers.

“The Peaceful School Bus and Bus Compliment Programs help us to achieve our goal of giving our students a positive, peaceful experience each and every day,” said DiMuzio.